Good or bad news for anaemia management in CRAS patients?

Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) appear to have a better safety profile in patients with heart failure compared with patients with renal disease. What does this mean for anaemia management in patients with CRAS? This is one of the issues raised by the authors of a new review paper in Nature Reviews Cardiology. Professor Van Veldhuisen and colleagues also consider the impact of anaemia management on symptoms, functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure, as well as looking at the potential physiological explanations for the different efficacy and safety profiles of ESAs in heart failure and in kidney disease. Iron deficiency is common in CHF, and has both haematopoietic and non- haematopoietic effects that lead to reduced physical performance, impaired quality of life and ultimately to increased mortality. In this context, the authors reflect on the implications of recent trials showing the benefits of intravenous iron therapy in patients with heart failure. PubMed abstract here